Dense aggregations of three deep-sea holothurians in the southern Weddell Sea, Antarctica

Abstract

Depth ranged from 240-1200 m. Elpidia glacialis, Achlyonice violaecuspidata and Scotoplanes globosa occurred in dense aggregations of differing spatial scale. For the first 2 species, median densities within patches were 17 and 6 ind.m-2 respectively. The size-frequency distributions of all species were relatively broad. Behavioural communication between individuals assuring the formation and persistence of these aggregations is proposed. -from Authors